2LT John Edward Butts, 21, USA (1922–1944)
Company E, 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division
Normandy, France
June 14, 16 and 23, 1944
Presented August 1945
Posthumous
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to 2LT John Edward Butts, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company E, 60th Infantry Regiment.
2LT Butts heroically led his platoon against the enemy in Normandy, France, on June 14, 16, and 23, 1944. Although painfully wounded on the 14th near Orglandes and again on the 16th while spearheading an attack to establish a bridgehead across the Douve River, he refused medical aid and remained with his platoon. A week later, near Flottemanville Hague, he led an assault on a tactically important and stubbornly defended hill studded with tanks, antitank guns, pillboxes, and machine-gun emplacements, and protected by concentrated artillery and mortar fire. As the attack was launched, 2LT Butts, at the head of his platoon, was critically wounded by German machine-gun fire. Although weakened by his injuries, he rallied his men and directed one squad to make a flanking movement while he alone made a frontal assault to draw the hostile fire upon himself. Once more he was struck, but by grim determination and sheer courage continued to crawl ahead. When within ten yards of his objective, he was killed by direct fire. By his superb courage, unflinching valor and inspiring actions, 2LT Butts enabled his platoon to take a formidable strong point and contributed greatly to the success of his battalion’s mission.
1 Like
2LT David Richard Kingsley, 25, USAAF (1918–1944)
341 BS, 97 BG(H), 15th Air Force
Near Ploești, Romania
June 23, 1944
Presented February 17, 1945
Posthumous
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to 2LT (Air Corps) David Richard Kingsley, United States Army Air Forces, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, June 23, 1944 near Ploești, Romania, while flying as bombardier of a B-17 type aircraft with the 341st Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group (H), Fifteenth Air Force.
On the bomb run 2LT Kingsley’s aircraft was severely damaged by intense flak and forced to drop out of formation but the pilot proceeded over the target and 2LT Kingsley successfully dropped his bombs, causing severe damage to vital installations. The damaged aircraft, forced to lose altitude and to lag behind the formation, was aggressively attacked by three Me 109 aircraft, causing more damage to the aircraft and severely wounding the tail gunner in the upper arm. The radio operator and engineer notified 2LT Kingsley that the tail gunner had been wounded and that assistance was needed to check the bleeding. 2LT Kingsley made his way back to the radio room, skillfully applied first aid to the wound, and succeeded in checking the bleeding. The tail gunner’s parachute harness and heavy clothes were removed and he was covered with blankets, making him as comfortable as possible. Eight Me 109 aircraft again aggressively attacked 2LT Kingsley’s aircraft and the ball turret gunner was wounded by 20mm shell fragments. He went forward to the radio room to have 2LT Kingsley administer first aid. A few minutes later when the pilot gave the order to prepare to bail out, 2LT Kingsley immediately began to assist the wounded gunners in putting on their parachute harness. In the confusion the tail gunner’s harness, believed to have been damaged, could not be located in the bundle of blankets and flying clothes which had been removed from the wounded men. With utter disregard for his own means of escape, 2LT Kingsley unhesitatingly removed his parachute harness and adjusted it to the wounded tail gunner. Due to the extensive damage caused by the accurate and concentrated 20mm fire by the enemy aircraft the pilot gave the order to bail out, as it appeared that the aircraft would disintegrate at any moment. 2LT Kingsley aided the wounded men in bailing out and when last seen by the crewmembers he was standing on the bomb bay catwalk. The aircraft continued to fly on automatic pilot for a short distance, then crashed and burned. His body was later found in the wreckage. 2LT Kingsley by his gallant heroic action was directly responsible for saving the life of the wounded gunner.
2 Likes
PFC Harold Glenn Epperson, 20, USMCR (1923–1944)
1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division
Saipan, Mariana Islands
June 25, 1944
Presented July 4, 1945
Posthumous
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to PFC Harold Glenn Epperson, United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the First Battalion, Sixth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on the island of Saipan in the Marianas, on June 25, 1944.
With his machine-gun emplacement bearing the full brunt of a fanatic assault initiated by the Japanese under cover of predawn darkness, PFC Epperson manned his weapon with determined aggressiveness, fighting furiously in the defense of his battalion’s position and maintaining a steady stream of devastating fire against rapidly infiltrating hostile troops to aid materially in annihilating several of the enemy and in breaking the abortive attack. Suddenly a Japanese soldier, assumed to be dead, sprang up and hurled a powerful hand grenade into the emplacement. Determined to save his comrades, PFC Epperson unhesitatingly chose to sacrifice himself and, diving upon the deadly missile, absorbed the shattering violence of the exploding charge in his own body. Stouthearted and indomitable in the face of certain death, PFC Epperson fearlessly yielded his own life that his able comrades might carry on the relentless battle against a ruthless enemy. His superb valor and unfaltering devotion to duty throughout reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
2 Likes
CPL John D. Kelly, 20, USA (1923–1944)
Company E, 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division
Fort du Roule, Cherbourg, France
June 25, 1944
Presented January 24, 1945
Posthumous
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to TSGT John D. Kelly (ASN: 33271778), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company E, 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division.
On June 25, 1944, in the vicinity of Fort du Roule, Cherbourg, France, when CPL Kelly’s unit was pinned down by heavy enemy machine-gun fire emanating from a deeply entrenched strongpoint on the slope leading up to the fort, CPL Kelly volunteered to attempt to neutralize the strongpoint. Arming himself with a pole charge about ten feet long and with 15 pounds of explosive affixed, he climbed the slope under a withering blast of machine-gun fire and placed the charge at the strongpoint’s base. The subsequent blast was ineffective, and again, alone and unhesitatingly, he braved the slope to repeat the operation. This second blast blew off the ends of the enemy guns. CPL Kelly then climbed the slope a third time to place a pole charge at the strongpoint’s rear entrance. When this had been blown open, he hurled hand grenades inside the position, forcing survivors of the enemy gun crews to come out and surrender. The gallantry, tenacity of purpose, and utter disregard for personal safety displayed by CPL Kelly were an incentive to his comrades and worthy of emulation by all.
2 Likes
1LT Carlos Carnes Ogden Sr., 27, USA (1917–2001)
Company K, 3rd Battalion, 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division
Near Fort du Roule, Cherbourg, France
June 25, 1944
Presented June 28, 1945
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to 1LT (Infantry) Carlos Carnes Ogden Sr., United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division.
On the morning of June 25, 1944, near Fort du Roule, guarding the approaches to Cherbourg, France, 1LT Ogden’s company was pinned down by fire from a German 88mm gun and two machine guns. Arming himself with an M1 rifle, a grenade launcher, and a number of rifle and hand grenades, he left his company in position and advanced alone, under fire, up the slope toward the enemy emplacements. Struck on the head and knocked down by a glancing machine-gun bullet, 1LT Ogden, in spite of his painful wound and enemy fire from close range, continued up the hill. Reaching a vantage point, he silenced the 88mm gun with a well-placed rifle grenade and then, with hand grenades, knocked out the two machine guns, again being painfully wounded. 1LT Ogden’s heroic leadership and indomitable courage in alone silencing these enemy weapons inspired his men to greater effort and cleared the way for the company to continue the advance and reach its objectives.
2 Likes
PFC Kiyoshi K. Muranaga, 22, USA (1922–1944)
Company F, 2nd Battalion, 442 RCT – attached to the 34th Infantry Division
Near Suverto, Italy
June 26, 1944
Presented June 21, 2000
Posthumous
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to PFC Kiyoshi K. Muranaga (ASN: 37356488), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 34th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on June 26, 1944, near Suvereto, Italy.
PFC Muranaga’s company encountered a strong enemy force in commanding positions and with superior firepower. An enemy 88mm self-propelled gun opened direct fire on the company, causing the men to disperse and seek cover. PFC Muranaga’s mortar squad was ordered to action, but the terrain made it impossible to set up their weapons. The squad leader, realizing the vulnerability of the mortar position, moved his men away from the gun to positions of relative safety. Because of the heavy casualties being inflicted on his company, PFC Muranaga, who served as a gunner, attempted to neutralize the 88mm weapon alone. Voluntarily remaining at his gun position, PFC Muranaga manned the mortar himself and opened fire on the enemy gun at a range of approximately 400 yards. With his third round, he was able to correct his fire so that the shell landed directly in front of the enemy gun. Meanwhile, the enemy crew, immediately aware of the source of mortar fire, turned their 88mm weapon directly on PFC Muranaga’s position. Before PFC Muranaga could fire a fourth round, an 88mm shell scored a direct hit on his position, killing him instantly. Because of the accuracy of PFC Muranaga’s previous fire, the enemy soldiers decided not to risk further exposure and immediately abandoned their position. PFC Muranaga’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
2 Likes